Master of Science (M.S.) in Academic Advising Portfolio Department of Special Education, Counseling, and Student Affairs College of Education, Kansas State University Introduction The Graduate School of Kansas State University requires comprehensive examinations. In order to fulfill this requirement, the Academic Advising faculty of the Department of Special Education, Counseling, and Student Affairs adopted a portfolio system to ensure that all master s degree students possess the necessary knowledge and competencies. In developing these portfolios, students will demonstrate and apply what they have learned about academic advising from their coursework. Completed portfolios should be e- mailed to the advisor who will review and evaluate them in collaboration with the other members of the student s supervisory committee. Specifically, students are expected to demonstrate knowledge and competence in the following four student learning outcomes of the academic advising program: 1. Apply advising strategies to institutional advising programs and individual advising, drawing from EDCEP 835 and other relevant coursework. 2. Apply theories of learning, student development, and career development to assist students with their academic and career planning, drawing from relevant coursework. 3. Understand the influence of multicultural factors on the advising relationship and the content of advising with students, drawing from EDCEP 851 and other relevant coursework. 4. Apply knowledge of the needs and characteristics of specific groups of students and apply to academic advising, drawing from EDSP 853 College Students with Special Needs (formerly labeled EDSP 886) and other relevant coursework. Portfolio Components 1. Title Page. Include your name, contact information, date of portfolio submission, month/year of graduation, and advisor. 2. Table of Contents. 3. Introduction. The introduction is intended to be a brief description of your portfolio and its organization. 4. Current Resume. 5. Philosophy of Academic Advising Statement. Write your personal philosophy of academic advising (approximately 500 to 750 words) in which you address beliefs and principles that guide your academic advising. In addition, include examples of how you apply or plan to apply that philosophy in your professional practice.
2 Portfolio Options Option 1 Develop or cite two or three academic advising case studies that address the four learning outcomes. Present a discussion of each case study in which you clearly demonstrate knowledge and application of the four learning outcomes (see below for outcomes and expectations). It is not expected that each outcome be addressed in the discussion for each case study. At least eight different citations from coursework are to be presented in your responses to the case studies with at least two citations presented for each case study. A reference list is to be presented in APA style (6 th ed.). The discussion for each case study is to be no more than 1200 words. Option 2 Develop a portfolio or alternative project that addresses the four learning outcomes. The expectation is that the presentation of the portfolio/project clearly and explicitly demonstrates knowledge and application of the four learning outcomes (see below for outcomes and expectations). It is expected that a discussion of the way in which the knowledge and application of the learning outcomes to academic advising will be included in the portfolio. An example is developing a project/portfolio that includes three to four artifacts that demonstrate knowledge and application of the four learning outcomes. For example, the artifacts might be developed for the portfolio, enhanced documents or products from coursework, or documents or products developed based on coursework and used in your academic advising. A discussion of how knowledge and application of specific learning outcomes is demonstrated is to be presented for each artifact. Another example is to develop a comprehensive plan for an academic advising program for a college campus. Your plan must clearly demonstrate knowledge and application of the four learning outcomes and must include: The rationale for the program, including how the program will fit the institutional type, mission, and student body; The mission and goals for the program and clearly articulate these; A description of the academic advising model and delivery system to be utilized; A plan for a comprehensive professional development program for the academic advisors; and An assessment plan with multiple measures for assessment, including student learning outcomes. Should you choose Option 2, it is recommended that you share your idea with your advisor prior to starting the portfolio/project in order that there be agreement about it being appropriate. The total length for this portfolio/project option is expected to be no more than 30 pages. At least eight different references are to be cited in the presentation of the portfolio and a reference list is to be presented in APA style (6 th ed.).
3 Presentation and Quality The portfolio is to be completed as a Word file (PowerPoint might be used for the artifacts only). For Word documents, one-inch margins, double spacing, and at least 12-point font are to be used. The portfolio is expected to be a high quality, graduate document developed during the program. The portfolio content is expected to be substantive and professional in presentation. APA style (6th ed.) should be used in the presentation of the portfolio. An excellent reference for APA style is the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/). Evaluation Rubric and Expectations The entire portfolio will be reviewed based on the following criteria and the rubrics presented below: thoughtfulness and conceptualization; substantive and relevant content; demonstration of knowledge and application of the four learning outcomes and their relation to academic advising; and technical and stylistic presentation (e.g., writing style, organization and flow, APA style, grammar). Scoring Rubric for Philosophy of Academic Advising Statement Exemplary Proficient Basic Unsatisfactory Content Substantive level of reflection on professional philosophy and application of philosophy to professional practice Good level of reflection on professional philosophy and application of philosophy to professional practice Adequate level of reflection on professional philosophy and application of philosophy to professional practice Presentation presentation, and philosophy quality are excellent presentation, and philosophy quality are very good presentation, and philosophy quality are acceptable Limited or minimal information to make a determination presentation, and philosophy quality are poor
4 Scoring Rubric for Resume Exemplary Proficient Basic Unsatisfactory Content Includes necessary sections and follows effective resume guidelines (e.g., action verbs, objective, order of sections, chronological order for positions) Includes most necessary sections and generally follows resume guidelines Some necessary sections are not included and there are several mistakes in resume guidelines Format Format and presentation make for an exceptionally professional and attractive resume, correct use of grammar and vocabulary, very readable and organized Format and presentation make for a generally professional resume, generally correct use of grammar and vocabulary, organized and readable Format and presentation are somewhat inconsistent which impacts organization and readability, a few errors in grammar and vocabulary Poor presentation and generally does not follow good practice resume guidelines Format and presentation are inconsistent and poor, poorly organized, hard to read, generally unattractive, too many errors in grammar and vocabulary Scoring Rubric for Portfolio Options Exemplary Proficient Basic Unsatisfactory Content Demonstrates substantive depth of knowledge and understanding of the four learning outcomes; consistently demonstrates the skills associated with the learning outcomes; narrative effectively integrates learning outcomes and persuasively demonstrates how these support academic advising Demonstrates good depth of knowledge and understanding of the four learning outcomes; demonstrates the skills associated with the learning outcomes; narrative integrates learning outcomes and demonstrates how these support academic advising Demonstrates acceptable understanding of three of the learning outcomes and the skills associated with the learning outcomes; narrative demonstrates some integration of the learning outcomes and how these support academic advising Limited or minimal information to make a determination Presentation presentation, and portfolio quality are excellent presentation, and portfolio quality are very good presentation, and portfolio quality are good Writing style, technical presentation, and portfolio quality are poor
5 Expectations for Addressing the Learning Outcomes in the Portfolios Learning Outcome 1 Apply advising strategies to institutional advising programs and individual advising, drawing from EDCEP 835 and other relevant coursework. Expectation At least two advising strategies related to advising programs and/or individual advising are to be addressed. Learning Outcome 2 Apply theories of learning, student development, and career development to assist students with their academic and career planning, drawing from relevant coursework. Expectation At least three theories (one from learning, one from student development, one from career development) are to be discussed. Learning Outcome 3 Understand the influence of multicultural factors on the advising relationship and the content of advising with students, drawing from EDCEP 851 and other relevant coursework. Expectation At least one culture-specific advising intervention that addresses the needs of students is to be presented. Learning Outcome 4 Apply knowledge of the needs and characteristics of specific groups of students and apply to academic advising, drawing from EDSP 853 College Students with Special Needs and other relevant coursework. Expectation At least one specific group of students (e.g., students with disabilities, students who are undecided, student athletes) is to be addressed. Portfolio Assistance If you have any questions about the portfolio requirements or process, contact your advisor. Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities If you have any condition, such as a physical or learning disability, which will make it difficult for you to carry out the work as outlined or which will require academic accommodations, please notify your advisor before creating your portfolio. Academic Honesty Kansas State University has an Honor and Integrity System (http://www.k-state.edu/honor/honorsystem) based on personal integrity, which is presumed to be sufficient assurance that, in academic matters, one's work is performed honestly and without unauthorized assistance. Graduate students, when they register, acknowledge the jurisdiction of the K-State Honor and Integrity System. The
6 policies and procedures of the Honor and Integrity System apply to all full-time and part-time students enrolled in graduate courses on campus, off campus, as well as online. A component vital to the Honor and Integrity System is the inclusion of the Honor Pledge, which applies to all assignments, examinations, and other course work undertaken by students. The Honor Pledge is implied, whether or not it is stated: "On my honor, as a student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work." A grade of XF can result from a breach of academic honesty. The F indicates failure in the course; the X indicates the reason is an Honor Pledge violation. To find examples of actions that would be considered academic dishonesty, go to the following Web site: http://www.kstate.edu/honor/students/examples.htm Revised 6/10